Canine Liver Disease

Liver Enzyme and Elevated Liver Enzymes

Canine liver diseases is frequently see in my practice. Based on my solid experience I can give you best information on liver disease symptoms and what you can do to help your dogs health.

Yes, you can do a lot to help your friend if some liver problem do become a worry. That's important to know. But, before we touch that subject on liver supplements, let's touch some basics.

What can cause liver diseases in dogs?

• Congenital Diseases
• Hepatic Shunts (causing Hepatic Encephalopathy)

• Metabolic Diseases
• Deposition of fat in liver (ex Obesity,Diabetes, Hypothyroidism)
• Cobber accumulation
• Inflammations
• Distemper
• Chronic Hepatitis
• Hepatic Cirrhosis
• Medicines
• Corticosteroids
• Epilepsy medicine
• Liver Cancer
• Congestive Heart Disease






Photo courtesy of Mike Baird

As you see lot of different causes and diseases. Some more liver related than others. Sometimes the liver reaction is primary. Or it can be secondary as in Congestive heart diseases.

Do you need more facts about liver problem symptoms?.....


Symptoms Of Liver Diseases

Here you will find the answers to your questions on canine liver disease symptoms. What are the most frequent symptoms seen in practice? Want some real life story from my practice? Well you find it all here.




Diagnostic Blood Samples

• Liver Enzymes
• Bile Acids
• Billirubin

Blood samples are so important. This is the place to begin, if your vet suspects canine liver disease and dog health problem. But, what about this when you are returning home. Can you remember it all. Lot of abbreviations, and different what kind of conclusions you can make from the different blood liver enzymes. So, this is why I have done this......

Abnormal Liver Enzymes

Alt or Alkp,its all explained here. Whats the difference between them and their value in practice. Use this as a guide when you are back home. Feeling confused and worried. You need back to basics information about elevated liver enzymes.

Bile Acids

Bile Acid test is another very used test. This is a non specific test. but, it tell us how bad the liver cells are stressed. Normally liver cells are very effective in reabsorb the bile acids from the portal blood (blood from the intestines).

Bile acids are used in the digestion. After they are reabsorbed they are used again in the digestion process of fats.

In practice you are doing this test on a starved dog. The first blood sample is taken. Immediately after, you give some food together with some maize oil. This will pump out bile acids from the liver because of the fat content. Next blood sample is done after one hour

Normally almost all bile acid should get reabsorbed in one hour. If not, liver cells are stressed. Something is wrong.

You can't say what. Other tests are necessary.One often used are...

Billirubin.

And the questions you might have could be What is it? Where does it come from and what does it say. Have a look and get the best information.







Photo courtesy of Mike Baird

What You can do

Your veterinarian will make the diagnosis and start the treatment. Probably using some medicine on prescription. But, some supplements important in liver disease in dogs are not on prescription. They can be used by you.

The liver nutritional supplements I am considering is:

• Adenosylmethionine (or Denosyl)
• Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle is used a lot. Are you wondering how it can be so beneficial or if it should have some side effects? Well, you get the information you are looking fore at benefits of milk thistle and at milk thistle side effects

and not forget Liver Food which has been developed a lot to meet the nutritional needs in canine liver disease.




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